Last year, vulnerabilities associated with Adobe Flash Player led to malware infections delivered via banner ads running on legitimate websites. These “malvertising” exploits have proven to be quite prolific, spreading across the Internet—some install malware that illegally inflates ad click numbers, while others can deliver ransomware viruses that instantly encrypt files on a user’s computer and any connected drives.
If that happens, the worst-case scenario can be devastating for a business: cybercriminals can demand thousands of dollars for a decryption key to regain access to a user’s data, similar to the CryptoLocker and CryptoWall ransomware viruses that made headlines last year.
Just last week, Adobe Flash made the news again, when two separate critical patches were released to shore up security gaps that were allowing hackers to take control of users’ computers. According to a security announcement released on October 26th, Adobe was quoted as saying that “We are aware of a report that an exploit exists in the wild and is being used in limited, targeted attacks against users running Windows 7, 8.1, and 10.
But such zero-day flaws are not patched by Microsoft—instead, computer users have to be aware of the Adobe Flash issues in the first place, then find the security patches, download them, and install them, all steps of a process that can be fraught with danger.
Unless, of course, you have a trusted IT provider on your side. At CMIT Solutions, we dedicate our most valuable resources to keeping desktops, laptops, and mobile devices updated with the latest security updates and software patches. And we do it because we know that such proactive monitoring and maintenance is the most important building block toward network security.
Here Are Three More Methods to Avoid Virus Infections and Keep Your Network Safe:
1) Antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware are critical. So critical, in fact, that at CMIT Solutions, our flagship Marathon product now includes these services as part of its core offering. Cyberattackers are constantly changing their tactics, which means you deserve a security solution that is constantly evolving to meet the current threat landscape. When implemented properly with the help of an IT provider, anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware solutions can provide a certain level of security.
2) But multi-layered network security is also necessary to work toward comprehensive security. As new exploits and vulnerabilities pop up, enhanced tools are required to combat them. At CMIT Solutions, our high-level security services can analyze Internet traffic looking for exactly the kind of exploits listed above, along with new forms of malware and sophisticated phishing attacks that target specific users at your company. By identifying these attacks in advance, we can prevent them on both local networks and mobile devices, enforcing acceptable use policies through content filtering and providing an “umbrella” of security that’s unprecedented in the IT industry. Of course, even the densest layers of security can’t provide 100% protection, which is why we also require all of our clients to have…
3) Remote backup and disaster recovery plans in place and functioning well. If your data is hacked by ransomware or malware, often the only way to get it back without paying a hefty total to international criminals is by accessing a regular, remote, and easily retrievable backup. If you work in an industry that requires daily or even more frequent “snapshots” of backed-up data, you can often be back up and running after a cyberattack in a matter of days or even hours.
It’s okay if you feel dismayed by the constant stream of news about data breaches, cyberattacks, and other infections, particularly in popular programs like Adobe Flash. That’s why top-flight proactive services, backup and disaster recovery, business continuity, data encryption, email archiving, and other services are so critical to day-to-day business operations. With a trusted IT provider by your side, you can survive (and thrive) in today’s complicated IT world.
At CMIT Solutions, we defend your network, secure your data, and empower your staff to be more productive. Contact us today so that we can help you boost productivity and efficiency while you worry about growing your business.